Poll shows ex-speaker, PM front-runners for presidential seat
The former Communist speaker and current leader of the Democratic Party, Marian Lupu, and Prime Minister Zinaida Greciani are the most probable candidates for the post of Moldovan president, according to the Barometer of Public Opinion poll unveiled on July 20 by the Institute of Public Policies.
The poll showed that if a presidential election were held next Sunday, Lupu would have mustered 21.7 per cent of votes, Greciani, 21.2 per cent of votes, the deputy leader of the opposition Liberal Party Dorin Chirtoaca, 11 per cent, and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vlad Filat, 6.7 per cent.
Moldova has been a parliamentary republic since 2000 and the president is elected by parliament. Moldova is to hold an early poll on 29 July after MPs elected on 5 April failed to elect the president.
Acting President Vladimir Voronin enjoys the confidence of 37.5 per cent of the population (compared with 48 per cent in March). Lupu has a slight advantage, enjoying the confidence of 37.6 per cent of the population (up from 35.5 per cent in March). He is followed by Greciani with 34.5 per cent (up from 8.5 per cent), Chirtoaca with 27.8 per cent and Filat with 22.5 per cent.
The ruling Communist Party is trusted by 40 per cent of the population. It is followed by the Democratic Party with 25.4 per cent, the Liberal Party with 24.7 per cent, the Liberal Democratic Party with 22.4 per cent and the Our Moldova Alliance with 15.6 per cent.
Church is the most trusted Moldovan institution with 80 per cent. It is followed by media with about 50 per cent and the local authorities with 43.5 per cent. The presidential administration is trusted by 35.8 per cent of the population, police by 30.5 per cent and the government and parliament by 30 per cent each.
The poll was conducted by the Institute of Public Policies among 1,534 respondents between 26 June and 10 July. The margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
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